Page 178 of Enthrall Shadows
“I wanted to check on you, sir,” he said.
“I told you to go home.” I frowned. “Dex okay?”
“Yes, your butler took care of him. Told me he’d feed him.”
“That’s good.”
His focus narrowed on the assortment of tealeaves I’d been playing around with. It would be easy to memorize the names on the jars—if that’s why he was here.
It was something our spy might want to do. I turned one of them around making the action appear natural.
“Do you need anything, sir?” he asked, sounding nervous.
“No, but thank you. I’m going to keep going. I’ll drive myself home.”
I’d not counted on him coming in and sitting down on the other side of the long marble table, like he was now. He’d often shown the confidence to challenge me—both admirable and annoying.
We’d be alone down here and that wasn’t terrifyingat all.
My heart was racing.
“You were in Afghanistan?” he said.
Here it was—the conversation I’d been waiting for.
“Yes.”
“It’s why I took this job. That and the fact you are who you are.”
Good to know, I mused, dark thoughts swirling.
He reached into his jacket pocket, and I leaped up, ready to tackle him or dive behind the table.
He paused, just as startled.
Admittedly an overreaction, but it was impossible to shake that level of training.
His frown deepened. “My phone.”
Throat tight, I slowed my breathing.
Hopefully the perspiration spotting my brow would go unnoticed.
“I wanted to show you this.” He turned his phone so I could see it.
“Who is it?” But I knew, even from here I could see the man in military uniform had a resemblance to him. “Your dad?”
“He died in Afghanistan. First few weeks of the war.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said sincerely.
“His buddies told me he was a hero. He saved lives by placing himself in harm’s way.”
“A brave man,” I said softly. “Wish I’d met him.”
“He served with the Marines.”
“The first solders to land in Afghanistan.”So damn brave.
